“Taking Care” by Joy Williams creates the world of Preacher Jones. The story begins in medias res, with a scene depicting Jones consoling his wife at the side of her hospital bed as they wait for results from the doctor. While Jones is watching his wife delve into a state of childlike dependence, he is also taking care of both his daughter’s child and dog. Despite all of this, he continues to preach for his church, even in his time of despair. Preacher Jones’ unconditional love, introspectiveness, and ample integrity lead him to undergo a renewal of faith by the time the story concludes.
Jones’ unconditional love is apparent when he attempts to balance his duties as a father, a preacher, and a husband. The story opens with the line, “Jones, …show more content…
Williams cleverly tells a story within “Taking Care”. In the sub-story, a woman accuses a man of fathering her child and because of this, he cares for the child. Only a year later, the woman takes the child back and reveals that he is not the father. Jones had previously appreciated the story, “...but now he is annoyed at the man’s passivity. His wife's sickness has changed everything for Jones. He will continue to accept but he will no longer surrender. Surely things are different for Jones now” (98). Jones has heard this story numerous times, but this is the first time he seems irritated by it. This rather emotional response is due to the similarities between the story and his life; Williams has painted a picture of Preacher Jones going through the motions of his life doing one thing on the outside and feeling something different on the inside. Jones’ introspectiveness is exhibited once again when the narrator points out, “Jones cannot understand the words but the music stuns him. Kindertotenlieder. [...] Jones plays the record, again and again, searching for his old grammar. At last, he finds it. [...] These lessons are neither of life or death. Why was he instructed in them?” (95). With a dying wife, reckless daughter, and a granddaughter to take care of, Jones wrestles with the importance of his life and the importance of the decisions he made to get where he is today. Earlier in the story, he had, “...lost what he was looking for. He must have known once, surely. . . . Why can’t he remember his life!” Leading up to this moment, Jones is giving his sermon and baptizing his granddaughter. Externally, Jones is composed and appears normal, but internally his faith is being tested all while he is grieving for his wife, “gaunt with belief” ( 97). This is yet another example of Jones portraying one person on the outside while
Jones’ unconditional love is apparent when he attempts to balance his duties as a father, a preacher, and a husband. The story opens with the line, “Jones, …show more content…
Williams cleverly tells a story within “Taking Care”. In the sub-story, a woman accuses a man of fathering her child and because of this, he cares for the child. Only a year later, the woman takes the child back and reveals that he is not the father. Jones had previously appreciated the story, “...but now he is annoyed at the man’s passivity. His wife's sickness has changed everything for Jones. He will continue to accept but he will no longer surrender. Surely things are different for Jones now” (98). Jones has heard this story numerous times, but this is the first time he seems irritated by it. This rather emotional response is due to the similarities between the story and his life; Williams has painted a picture of Preacher Jones going through the motions of his life doing one thing on the outside and feeling something different on the inside. Jones’ introspectiveness is exhibited once again when the narrator points out, “Jones cannot understand the words but the music stuns him. Kindertotenlieder. [...] Jones plays the record, again and again, searching for his old grammar. At last, he finds it. [...] These lessons are neither of life or death. Why was he instructed in them?” (95). With a dying wife, reckless daughter, and a granddaughter to take care of, Jones wrestles with the importance of his life and the importance of the decisions he made to get where he is today. Earlier in the story, he had, “...lost what he was looking for. He must have known once, surely. . . . Why can’t he remember his life!” Leading up to this moment, Jones is giving his sermon and baptizing his granddaughter. Externally, Jones is composed and appears normal, but internally his faith is being tested all while he is grieving for his wife, “gaunt with belief” ( 97). This is yet another example of Jones portraying one person on the outside while